Salem County opens Emergency Operations Center to monitor Hurricane Irene as storm intensifies, bears down on area overnight

View full sizeStaff photo by Bill Gallo Jr.Rainwater rushes along Market Street in downtown Salem late this afternoon after the first heavy rain bands struck Salem County. Much heavier rain and high winds are expected overnight.

Hurricane Irene is moving into Salem County.

SALEM — The Salem County Emergency Operations Center has opened in Mannington Township, as emergency management officials begin what will be a long night monitoring Hurricane Irene as the storm bears down on the county.

Irene, still a Category 1 hurricane, is forecast to move along the Jersey Shore coastline overnight, pummeling Salem County with heavy rain and wind gusts up to 75 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

The Emergency Operations Center opened at 6 p.m. tonight at the county’s Emergency Management headquarters.

A hurricane warning remains in effect for Salem County through Sunday morning.

The high winds are expected to produce numerous power outages by bringing down trees on electric lines and power lines. As of 6 p.m., more than 2,600 customers in the county were reported out, according to Atlantic City Electric.

Rainfall intensified in Salem County throughout the afternoon and winds picked up. More than 2 inches of rain had fallen by late afternoon, according to unofficial estimates and wind gusts of 31 mph had been recorded.

While there was plenty of ponding on roadways from the heavy rain, no major flooding had been reported by early evening, according to Salem County Deputy Administrator Robin Weinstein.

The county had urged those living in low-lying, flood-prone areas to move to higher ground with family or friends or take advantage of one of the two shelters opened by the county"s CERT teams and volunteers.

The shelters are located at Salem Community College, 460 Hollywood Ave., Carneys Point and at Arthur P. Schalick High School, 718 Centerton Rd., Pittsgrove.

As of this evening the college shelters had about 100 people (including about 20 evacuated from Atlantic County) and the Schalick shelter had about three residents there.